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Playful, opulent and guaranteed to catch the eye.
If there’s ever a time of year to embrace a maximalist interior, it’s Christmas. An excuse to indulge in opulent homeware, plentiful texture and heaps of colour, a maximalist home is the perfect place for hosting parties and entertaining guests. Because if a playful home doesn’t generate some festive cheer, nothing will.
Lucy Ward, brand director of Vinterior, agrees: 'This year, forget about minimalism and opt for a retro-inspired maximalist theme for your decorations. Embracing the eclectic look is easier than you might think and a lot more fun to develop as it allows for unlimited play and creativity.’
Think clashing colours, layered tablescapes and kitsch ornaments, as well as a distinctly 'more is more' approach. As long as you let your creativity run wild, you really can’t go wrong.
Keep reading to learn six inspirational ways to get your maximalist Christmas interior just right...
'Shoppers are embracing vibrant colour palettes and irregular shapes as a way to inject joy and add a dose of playfulness into their homes. Christmas, of course, is no exception to this,' says Etsy’s trend expert, Dayna Isom Johnson.
'One of my favourite maximalist Christmas trends is "The Christmas Disco". Disco has had a massive resurgence this year, and shoppers are finding creative ways to incorporate the glamorous trend into their Christmas decor.
'Disco is officially glamming up the festive season – from little disco balls on a tablescape to a full-blown disco ball wreath on your front door; there are so many ways you can embrace this trend. We’ve seen a 13 per cent increase in searches for disco ball items on the site in the last three months compared to the same period last year.
'My key takeaway to embrace the trend is to pile on the eye-catching, over-the-top accents (rainbow tinsel wreath, anyone?). And don’t be afraid to get creative with details that don’t traditionally scream Christmas – I’m talking multicoloured pom-pom stockings, ornaments hand-painted in contrasting patterns, and an extra helping of tassels and sequins for that OTT disco vibe.'
Bring the disco to Christmas dinner with these mirrorball place card holders. Mix with other brightly coloured pieces of festive decor for a look that's bound to get the party started.
'A quick refresh of each room as the seasons change can sometimes be just the tonic to see things from a new perspective and lift the spirits – this is especially true for Christmas,' says Matthew Williamson.
'As a maximalist, I love to mix different elements, colours, and textures to create eclectic and joy-inducing interiors. As such, I don’t have any specific rules when it comes to decorating, however, for Christmas, I recommend sticking to a colour theme for each room whilst using different patterns and varying their scale. This will help to create a more cohesive and curated look. Usually, a particular colour will feel right in a specific space.'
In a bold combination of pink and green, this crystal candleholder has a texture that mirrors cut crystal glassware. Place your dinner candle on the pink side, or flip it over and use the green end as a tealight holder.
'When it comes to interiors, more is always more, no matter the season,' Martin Waller, the founder of Andrew Martin.
'Your home is a reflection of you and your personality, and this applies just as much to seasonal decorations as year-round interiors. For example, my treasured collection of old toys takes centre stage at Christmas time.
'Winter is also all about layering. I use textures like wool and fur alongside kilim fabrics, rich autumnal and wintery colours, to provide a base for my decorations, with a different theme thrown on top each year.'
A maximalist tablescape calls for crockery that's a cut above the rest. These simple yet striking plates have been elegantly painted and stamped by hand and feature irregular crimson stripes and indigo rims – stunning.
'A more is more philosophy is a fool-proof method for creating an inviting and playground-like space,' advises Lucy, and we agree.
Shy away from neutral Christmas decor and instead opt for as much colour as possible if you want a truly maximalist interior. It doesn't matter if you don't go for traditional colour pairings, either.
'Select the brightest and boldest and don’t be fearful of clashing colours and patterns,' Lucy suggests. 'From traditional reds and greens to pastels and navy and blues, add depth to avoid a Christmas tree devoid of personality and warmth.'
Instead of choosing colours you think you should have in your interior, choose the hues that you love the most. After all, if you pick your favourite colours, you're bound to end up with an interior you love. Don't forget to up the ante with pattern and texture, too!
Kate Cartwright, brand marketing manager at Burleigh, says: 'I like to mix and match patterns within a colour theme – throughout the year, I mix and match inky blues with white, but at Christmas, I'm going to switch it up to a deep green.
'I'm going to layer up the bowls and flatware to form an architectural temple to the main event – the food! I love using wide serving dishes surrounded by foliage to create a full look without compromising the guest experience. To complement this, you can suspend decorations over the table – this gives a big wow factor. I like to accent the table with seasonal foliage and weave in sprigs of herbs so the table smells amazing, even before the food is bought out.'
This eye-catching trio of paper Christmas trees makes for a fantastic festive centrepiece. Pair with plenty of accessories and tableware in gold tones and you'll have one luxe tablescape.
'Don’t worry if your Christmas decorations feel too eccentric or kitsch,' says Lucy. 'In fact, this is exactly what you should be aiming for, to create a characterful and one-of-a-kind space. With a carefully selected foundation and a few statement pieces, you can unleash your creativity and indulge with layering to add whimsy.'
Adopt a playful attitude when it comes to decorating, and opt for ornaments and decor that you're drawn to – regardless of whether they'd traditionally be styled together. Pair together a mix of textures, shapes and materials – the result will be an utterly eclectic finish.
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